This is my second book by Olsen, and while I didn’t enjoy it as much as The Last Thing She Ever Did, it was still pretty good. Olsen is a talented writer who weaves a compelling tale. I found myself thinking about the book when I wasn’t reading it, and that’s typically a sign of a good novel. Having read two of Olsen’s novels, I’m not the biggest fan of his endings. With that being said, I’ll be picking up another one of his books soon.
This isn’t a genre that I normally read, but I enjoyed Pestel’s book. I liked her mixture of mystery, suspense, and humor. I felt that it was a bit short, but this is the first book in the series, so I suppose that makes up for it. It’s a quick read that doesn’t really lag at any point. I give it four stars and will definitely read the sequel.
There was so much that I disliked about this book, but where to start? While there were some interesting aspects and plot lines in the novel, most of it was tiresome and annoying. Hawkins switches amongst her characters too often and fails to connect like she should with any of them. This felt like a story that could have been great, but instead it tried to do to much, and didn’t do anything well. I give it two stars because there were interesting moments and it was not entirely bad.
Enjoy getting to know, Robert Enders:
Thank you for joining me today. Tell us in three words how you would best describe your writing.
Entertaining, fast paced.
Your book, A Long Way From Tipperary, was released in May, 2017. Share a passage that you’d like for us to enjoy.
“Yesterday, on the twelfth day of the seventh month of Year 206 of the New Universal Calendar, Onyx Station was attacked and severely damaged by Azul space forces. I hereby call upon the Galactic Legislature to declare that a state of war exists between the New Magellanic Cloud and the Azul Starclan. We will fight in the intergalactic expanse, we shall fight in extrademensional space, we shall defend our home galaxy whatever the price might be, we shall fight in the nebulae, in the asteroid fields, and in the vast interstellar void. We shall fight in orbit, in atmosphere, and on the surface of every world where the enemy can be found. I have been speaking directly with President Helgrane and Commissar DeRocha about forming a coalition to defeat the forces of tyranny and genocide.”
You’ve been presented with the opportunity to be a best-selling author, but can never write again, or write forever, but never have a bestseller. Which scenario sounds more tempting?
The first option sounds like death, like I died and then suddenly people decided to buy my books. I want to continue writing for the rest of my life.
If you could live on a college campus and never leave, or live in a small town but be able to travel, which one would you choose?
I actively avoid college campuses. I actually live in a small town, and I am able to travel.
Okay, how about in an amusement park or in an airport?
I have no use for amusement parks. All that waiting in line, overpriced crappy food, and the gross bathrooms. I′m too goddamn old to be excited by rollercoasters.
And how about Australia or Scotland?
I′ve never been to either place. Australia sounds more interesting.
Who is your favorite 90’s band (I’m thinking Counting Crows, Blink 182, Hootie & the Blowfish)?
10,000 Maniacs. But that′s not actually what I listened to back then. I was more into Offspring and Green Day during the 90′s. I got into 10,000 Maniacs in 2004.
Are there any good bands out there today that we’ll talk about in 50 years?
In 50 years, ″Katy Perry or Taylor Swift?″ and ″Adele or Meghan Trainor?″ will be common questions in author interviews. But if you are asking about bands and not solo acts, I think Imagine Dragons has the potential to be the band that college kids in 2067 will pretend to like. I only like a couple of their songs, but I think they will get better over time. There are other bands that I like better, but Imagine Dragons is what I think people will still talk about.
And what about your favorite comedy on TV (My favorite is still The Office)?
Family Guy. It′s not because I look like Seth MacFarlane. It′s the only show on network TV that can make me laugh. It very hard to make me laugh. People will try to tell me jokes and I will just stare at them.
Is there anything you’re currently working on?
″Unauthorized Reading Material″ It′s a novel about private security.
Who is your favorite author and if you could ask him/her one question, what would it be?
John Scalzi. Ii I could ask him one question, I would ask ″Will you plug my book?″
Lightning round:
Ocean or mountains? Mountains strike me as safer.
Yogurt or ice cream? Ice cream. Yogurt is gross.
M&M’s or Skittles? I usually favor chocolate. Sometimes I might get Skittles.
Jimmy Fallon or Stephen Colbert? Stephen Colbert. I think you have to be drunk to find Fallon funny.
Happy or sad ending to a novel? Happy ending. If I′m going on a long journey, I want to go someplace nice.
Beer or wine? I don′t drink.
Flying or driving? I′ve been flying a couple times and I enjoyed it very much. The TSA has made it an unbearable hassle to fly now. Pre-9/11: flying. Post 9/11: driving.
Hemingway or Twain? Neither. Stienbeck.
You’re stranded on a desert island and you can take two things with you, as well as two people. What and who are you bringing?
Katy Perry, Taylor Swift, a mud wrestling ring, and a video camera.
You’re able to sit down with any leader in world history. Who would you choose, what would you talk about, and would you rather have him/her over to your house or meet at their place of royalty?
Cleopatra. We would talk about her turn-ons and turn-offs. She would come to my house when my girlfriend wasn′t home because I have AC.
You can wish for one thing and one thing only, not world peace and no more wishes. What’s it gonna be?
Immortality. It means even more time to write.
This book left me with mixed emotions. Had it not been for the surprise and intriguing ending, I would have been more disappointed. The dialogue was the biggest problem for me in this book, with much of it feeling forced, particularly the teenage portions. I feel like there was so much more potential with the story, yet I was constantly annoyed by the way the main characters spoke. I give it 3.5 stars, but I feel like I’m being generous.
Enjoy getting to know, C. K. Phillips:
Thank you for joining me today. Tell us in three words how you would best describe your writing.
Creative
Suspenseful
Believable
Your book, The Survival Initiative, was released in June, 2017. Share a passage that you’d like for us to enjoy.
We stepped up our pace and were almost sprinting. We turned a corner and were stunned by the scene in front of us. Miami Police blocked the roads. Behind them, we could see heavy dark smoke and flames shooting into the sky. It was bedlam and people were running everywhere. The sounds of sirens mingled with the panicked screams of people scrambling away from devastation that just a short time ago had been a modern mall. Looking closer, we saw emergency personnel carrying stretchers to waiting ambulances, which, as soon as were filled, left the scene with sirens blazing. We heard the thump, thump, thump of numerous news helicopters circling overhead.
You’ve been presented with the opportunity to be a best-selling author, but can never write again, or write forever, but never have a bestseller. Which scenario sounds more tempting?
Best selling author
If you could live on a college campus and never leave, or live in a small town but be able to travel, which one would you choose?
Small town and travel
Okay, how about in an amusement park or in an airport?
Amusement Park
And how about Australia or Scotland?
Australia
Who is your favorite 90’s band (I’m thinking Counting Crows, Blink 182, Hootie & the Blowfish)?
Hootie & the Blowfish
Are there any good bands out there today that we’ll talk about in 50 years?
Dave Matthews Band
And what about your favorite comedy on TV (My favorite is still The Office)?
Last Man Standing
Is there anything you’re currently working on?
Yes. Research for a 4th novel un-named as of now.
Who is your favorite author and if you could ask him/her one question, what would it be?
Clive Cussler: As an unknown indie author from a small town, what steps would you recommend I take in order to get reviews and increase recognition?
Lightning round:
Ocean or mountains? Ocean
Yogurt or ice cream? Ice Cream
M&M’s or Skittles? M&M’s
Jimmy Fallon or Stephen Colbert? Stephen Colbert
Happy or sad ending to a novel? Happy
Beer or wine? Wine
Flying or driving? Driving
Hemingway or Twain? Twain
You’re stranded on a desert island and you can take two things with you, as well as two people. What and who are you bringing?
Food & water; My wife Cindi and grandson Tyler.
You’re able to sit down with any leader in world history. Who would you choose, what would you talk about, and would you rather have him/her over to your house or meet at their place of royalty?
I would like to sit down with Leonardo da Vinci to discuss all his scientific concepts that were so far ahead of his time. I would want to go to his place to view all his drawings/concepts.
You can wish for one thing and one thing only, not world peace and no more wishes. What’s it gonna be?
That my wife would regain good health.
K. Phillips is a (mostly) retired educator who is an avid reader. COMES THE AWAKENING was his first novel and introduced the series featuring Phil and Cyndi Kent along with retired special forces agent Bill Lander. Phillips’ second book in the Kents/Lander series was ECHOES OF SKELETONS PAST. He has now completed the third in the series: THE SURVIVAL INITIATIVE. Although he implies no comparison to them, he points to Cussler, Baldacci, Brown, and Grisham as some who have inspired him to write. He lives with his wife in Southeast Tennessee and welcomes your comments here, C. K. Phillips Email.
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Check out the cover reveal for Christine Gabriel’s debut novel, Crimson Forest. Show some love to Christine and share on your social media pages.
Angelina Adams begs for normalcy as she has the ability to see and hear things other ‘normal’ people are unable to. The small hunting town of Buffalo, Wisconsin, famous for its eerie crimson moss covered forest, doesn’t help much as it’s rumored to be haunted by a frightening miscreation of mankind – its thirst for blood relentless as it drags terrified humans into the darkness behind it; seeking retribution for the many animals murdered by the hands of the numerous huntsmen that have invaded their habitat.
Legends begin to come to life as Angelina’s father suddenly disappears, and someone or something attempts to abduct her. Barely escaping she knows what she must do – find her father and stop whatever it is that’s behind the numerous disappearances.
Journeying into the ominous forest, she comes across a strange but handsome man by the name of Nikolai. She soon learns she must give this beautiful stranger her trust if she wants to discover the truth behind the age old stories. After many trials and tribulations she ultimately comes to the realization that the normalcy she sought out so desperately is actually for the more typical people who want to live in the comfort of being ordinary for the rest of their lives. It’s within the forest she learns that there is such a place where true love exists, and fairy tales are real – a place where past lives cross and happiness can live forever.
There’s nothing like a little fantasy and adventure to get your imagination going. Check out the new book from Chrissy Lessey:
She who holds the amulet, holds the power…..
Photographer Stevie Lewis is a newly single mom focused on raising her five-year-old autistic son Charlie, and running the business she shares with her best friend. She lives in beautiful Beaufort, North Carolina, within walking distance of her parents. Her mother is the president of the Beaufort Historical Society, and her father enjoys watching Carolina Panthers football.
Although Stevie’s life has its challenges, it is altogether average.
That is until rich, ruthless Vanessa Moore, the bad seed sown by the pirate Blackbeard generations ago, returns to Beaufort, determined to retrieve a magical amulet and exact revenge for her mother’s imprisonment.
It turns out Stevie’s life isn’t so average at all. She learns that the Historical Society is really a coven of witches. Her mother is their queen; and Vanessa is bent on destroying them all.
When Vanessa endangers the life of young Charlie, Stevie’s dormant supernatural powers rush to the surface to save her son. With help from the clandestine coven led by her own mother, Stevie works to master her magical talent. How far will Stevie go to protect her only son?
Bonus section added! The prequel novella, “The Secret Keepers” has been added at the end of this novel as added historical narrative of battles with the infamous pirate Blackbeard in the 1700’s and a Coven of witches played out as drama between good and evil. Find out how this twist of history impacts the witches of The Coven today.
Click on the cover below:
I’ll admit it: I used to hate to read. Back in high school, I would skim through books and only read the bold sections in textbooks. It wasn’t until around age 20 that I fell in love with reading. I have a heavy religious background and found my love for reading in theological books. Many of these were people’s journeys, their stories.
But now, as my second book has been published, I find myself wondering if people read anymore. Book sales have been fine, don’t get me wrong, but it amazes me how many people simply do not read. The excuses are endless: no time, too much work, family stuff, etc… The fact is, however, that we make time for what we want to make time for. We make time for those things that we truly care about.
It’s a shame that reading is no longer one of those things for the majority of people. Reading opens up a new world that otherwise would not exist. It allows us to create and explore. It expands our imagination and enables us to escape from reality. How many writers out there have family and friends who have never read their books? I’d guess that the majority of family and friends have not read them.
Why?
It’s not because they don’t like you or because they don’t care about what you do. People have forsaken the art of reading. I say art because it is an art. It’s a special gift that we have, one that lights up a child’s face when they discover how to put letters together and make a word. Sadly, many people would rather sit in front of a TV than open up a book. I watch TV, and enjoy it, but nothing compares to a good book.
So, how do we encourage people to start reading again? I’ve got one idea, though I’m not sure it’s the best: buy someone a book. Pick a book that you’ve already enjoyed, one that has stuck with you, and give it to them. A few books I would consider giving to people would be….
Them, by Joyce Carol Oates
The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao, by Junot Diaz
Their Eyes Were Watching God, by Zora Neale Hurston
The Shack, by William P. Young
Indian Killer, by Sherman Alexie
A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court, by Mark Twain
Check out the trailer for “Killer on the Wall,” by Wendy Sand Eckel. Click on the photo below:
Megan Johnston had been in the water for three days when Rosalie Hart discovered her. Megan’s Vera Bradley backpack was still strapped to her back.
Jackson Paul Baer 